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THE BETTER THING

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Mary teaches us that sitting is better than
bustling—listening better than muttering. In church history, the contemplative
tradition focuses on turning a loving gaze towards Jesus.

Meditation is another valuable practice when we focus our
mind on analysis and understanding of God’s truth. But contemplation is less
about what you are thinking and more about a place in your heart before God.

From the Latin word contemplatio
comes the meaning of a cleared space before an altar.

Mary is an example of contemplation. The better thing in our
lives for God is being with God. Martha chose doing work for God over being
still with God.

There are things that can be taken away from us. Our work,
our home, our titles… but nothing can separate us from the love of God found in
Jesus.

God is in the house. Come out of the workroom and sit with
Him.

St. Teresa said:

'Contemplative prayer in my opinion is nothing else than a close
sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him
who we know loves us.' Contemplative prayer seeks him 'whom my soul loves'. It
is Jesus, and in him, the Father. We seek him, because to desire him is always
the beginning of love, and we seek him in that pure faith which causes us to be
born of him and to live in him. In this inner prayer we can still meditate, but
our attention is fixed on the Lord himself."[i]

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